Kitten Care




DOGS CATS HORSES DAIRY, BEEF & ELK LLAMA, GOATS & SHEEP EXOTICS	Kitten Care Vaccinations Kittens should be vaccinated as early as six weeks. The first step in proper kitten health is a visit to your veterinarian as soon as you acquire your new kitten. The following diseases can be controlled by proper annual immunizations: Panleukopenia: Known as feline distemper, this disease is caused by a virus. Symptoms may include the following: lethargic, decreased appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhea and blood in the stool. Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR): Also known as feline herpesvirus, is one of the causes of chronic upper respiratory disease in cats. Symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose and eyes and/or coughing. Calicivirus: Another virus causing chronic upper respiratory symptoms in cats. Severity of infection depends on several factors, including the presence of other viruses. Chlamydia Psittaci: This bacteria is responsible for chronic mild upper respiratory disease (pneumonitis) either by itself or by contributing to the severity of disease when a cat is also infected with another virus. Symptoms may include runny eyes (tearing) and or sneezing/nasal discharge. Feline Leukemia: A deadly disease that is transmitted by other cats. This disease is caused by a virus that inhibits the immune system, resulting in various types of cancer and other chronic debilitating diseases in cats. Feline Infectious Peritonitis: This disease typically affects cats between the ages of six months to five years. Symptoms may include: Fever, decreased appetite, weight loss and/or depression. Rabies: This disease is a threat to both indoor and outdoor cats. Rabies can be borne by raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs and other cats. It is transmitted by the saliva of an infected animal. Consult with your local authorities for legal requirements with regards to Rabies Vaccinations. The purpose of vaccination in your young cat is to develop the immune system against the above mentioned diseases. When a vaccine is given to your cat, it's immune system makes antibodies that work against a virus or bacteria if it is encountered in the body. A nursing kitten will receive some antibodies from its mother to protect it from disease early in life. However, the antibodies received from its mother will gradually decrease as the kitten gets older. By giving a series of vaccinations (initial and 3-4 week booster...then annual boosters) will stimulate the kittens body to produce its own much needed antibodies. You should watch your cat after any vaccination. Typically your cat will not exhibit any visible reactions to the vaccines. However how a cat reacts to a vaccine can vary greatly depending on its age, type of vaccination and the cat's overall health before vaccination. Side affects may include: lethargy, mild fever or lack of appetite. If any of these sypmtoms persist for more than 48 hours, consult your veterinarian. Parasite Control Parasite control is very important to the overall health of your kitten. Proper parasite control should begin early on in your pets life and continue annually throughout their life. Roundworms/Hookworms: This internal parasite can cause severe illness and can sometimes be life-threatening. They live in the small intestine and can cause anemia. Your cat may be infected by ingesting roundworm eggs from the environment or by eating an infected rodent. Tapeworms: This internal parasite can often be found when a kittens mother has fleas. Another disease transmitted through contact with rodents, this is a threat to both outdoor OR indoor cats. Tapeworms normally infest dogs and cats but may appear in children if parts of infested fleas are accidentally consumed. Heartworm: This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes, which can infect an outdoor OR an indoor pet. Ticks: Although cats are excellent groomers, they can still have a tick attach and possible transmit disease to your cat. Ticks carry serious diseases such as cytauxzoonosis/lyme disease. Ear Mites: Ear mites feed on the lining of the ear canal, causing the production of brown wax. Signs include persistent scratching of the ears and head shaking. If the infection persists and spreads to the inner ear, the cat's hearing and balance may be affected. Fleas: (click on the link to the left to learn more about flea control/prevention) Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, secondary skin irritations and in extreme cases, anemia. Also fleas may transmit bubonic plague from rodent to rodent and from rodent to humans. Spaying/Neutering The Beginnings of Behavior Nutrition Our doctors are members of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association. ©2006-09 Grantsburg Animal Hospital \| Site by CrexTechs

Kitten Care

Vaccinations

Kittens should be vaccinated as early as six weeks. The first step in proper kitten health is a visit to your veterinarian as soon as you acquire your new kitten.

The following diseases can be controlled by proper annual immunizations:

Panleukopenia: Known as feline distemper, this disease is caused by a virus. Symptoms may include the following: lethargic, decreased appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhea and blood in the stool.

Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR): Also known as feline herpesvirus, is one of the causes of chronic upper respiratory disease in cats. Symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose and eyes and/or coughing.

Calicivirus: Another virus causing chronic upper respiratory symptoms in cats. Severity of infection depends on several factors, including the presence of other viruses.

Chlamydia Psittaci: This bacteria is responsible for chronic mild upper respiratory disease (pneumonitis) either by itself or by contributing to the severity of disease when a cat is also infected with another virus. Symptoms may include runny eyes (tearing) and or sneezing/nasal discharge.

Feline Leukemia: A deadly disease that is transmitted by other cats. This disease is caused by a virus that inhibits the immune system, resulting in various types of cancer and other chronic debilitating diseases in cats.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis: This disease typically affects cats between the ages of six months to five years. Symptoms may include: Fever, decreased appetite, weight loss and/or depression.

Rabies: This disease is a threat to both indoor and outdoor cats. Rabies can be borne by raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs and other cats. It is transmitted by the saliva of an infected animal. Consult with your local authorities for legal requirements with regards to Rabies Vaccinations.

The purpose of vaccination in your young cat is to develop the immune system against the above mentioned diseases. When a vaccine is given to your cat, it's immune system makes antibodies that work against a virus or bacteria if it is encountered in the body. A nursing kitten will receive some antibodies from its mother to protect it from disease early in life. However, the antibodies received from its mother will gradually decrease as the kitten gets older. By giving a series of vaccinations (initial and 3-4 week booster...then annual boosters) will stimulate the kittens body to produce its own much needed antibodies.

You should watch your cat after any vaccination. Typically your cat will not exhibit any visible reactions to the vaccines. However how a cat reacts to a vaccine can vary greatly depending on its age, type of vaccination and the cat's overall health before vaccination. Side affects may include: lethargy, mild fever or lack of appetite. If any of these sypmtoms persist for more than 48 hours, consult your veterinarian.

Parasite Control

Parasite control is very important to the overall health of your kitten. Proper parasite control should begin early on in your pets life and continue annually throughout their life.

Roundworms/Hookworms: This internal parasite can cause severe illness and can sometimes be life-threatening. They live in the small intestine and can cause anemia. Your cat may be infected by ingesting roundworm eggs from the environment or by eating an infected rodent.

Tapeworms: This internal parasite can often be found when a kittens mother has fleas. Another disease transmitted through contact with rodents, this is a threat to both outdoor OR indoor cats. Tapeworms normally infest dogs and cats but may appear in children if parts of infested fleas are accidentally consumed.

Heartworm: This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes, which can infect an outdoor OR an indoor pet.

Ticks: Although cats are excellent groomers, they can still have a tick attach and possible transmit disease to your cat. Ticks carry serious diseases such as cytauxzoonosis/lyme disease.

Ear Mites: Ear mites feed on the lining of the ear canal, causing the production of brown wax. Signs include persistent scratching of the ears and head shaking. If the infection persists and spreads to the inner ear, the cat's hearing and balance may be affected.

Fleas: (click on the link to the left to learn more about flea control/prevention) Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, secondary skin irritations and in extreme cases, anemia. Also fleas may transmit bubonic plague from rodent to rodent and from rodent to humans.

Spaying/Neutering

The Beginnings of Behavior

Nutrition

Our doctors are members of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association.